How to Remove Soda Stains

Knowing how to remove soda stains is an important tool for anyone who hosts parties, attends parties, has children, or just enjoys soda. Known as fizz drinks, pop, cola, or soft drinks, soda stains seem to happen all around the house.

If you have ever attended a children’s party you will notice the orange stains seem to be everywhere.

First Steps for Knowing How to Remove Soda Stains

The first steps you need to know when you are removing soda stains from clothing, carpet, or upholstery include the pretreatment. There are several methods used to remove soda stains depending on the surface.

The first thing you should do is mix one gallon of cold water with two tablespoons of liquid detergent. Place the stained clothing into the solution for at least thirty minutes.

If it is a large stain then you can leave the items to sit overnight in the solution. Once this is done you can take the items and ring out the excess water.

Pre-treat the affected area using a pre-wash stain remover

After you have done this you should launder the clothing in the hottest temperature setting you have to remove the stain completely.

If the stained items are white, you can let the item launder with bleach. If you have color-safe bleach, that can be used on stained colored clothing or fabrics.

Repeat this process, allowing the item to soak overnight if the stain has not been removed in the thirty minute period.

Obviously the sooner you work to remove the soda stains, the easier and faster the process will be. If you allow the stained items to sit for a long period of time then you will have to work longer and harder at removing the soda stains.

If you need to know how to remove soda stains from upholstery, the process is very different than removing soda stains from clothing.

Firstly, you should mix one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. If you are attempting to remove soda stains from your upholstery which contain purple, orange, or red dye, add one tablespoon of white vinegar to the mixture.

Once you have done this, take a clean sponge and dip it into the solution. Sponge the stain from the outside inward to prevent it from spreading.

Once the affected area has been soaked with the solution, use a clean white cloth to dab at it. Do not leave the upholstery soaking wet. Use only as much of the solution as necessary.

After this, take the clean cloth and blot at the stain to absorb the liquid. The solution should draw the stain out of the fibers where it can be picked up by the clean cloth.

You should repeat these steps until the stain is completely removed from the upholstery.

Once you have done this, use a new white cloth and cold water to sponge the area again, in the same fashion, to remove any excess cleaning solution. Then blot the area dry. If, after these steps, you find that the stain remains, use rubbing alcohol on a sponge to blot the area until more of the stain is removed.

Be cautious to read any instructional tags associated with your upholstery to determine which, if any, products may harm or discolor the upholstery. Once you use the rubbing alcohol, if you find that the stain still remains, you should mix one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of cold water and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid.

Sponge the affected area with this solution after which you should blot it with a clean cloth. Be cautious using this last method, as ammonia can be harmful to certain upholstery.

It is advised to test the solution in an inconspicuous portion of your upholstery to determine whether or not it will cause discoloration or anything else.

The most important thing you should consider when learning how to remove soda stains is that to avoid placing the stained items into the dryer until you have ensured that the stain was completely removed. If any part of the stain remains and you place the item in the dryer, the heat from the dryer will set the stain into the fibers of the fabric or clothing.